Scrap golden point? It's worth a try

By Daniel Nichols / Roar Guru

Every time a game is decided by a field goal in golden point the question is asked: is it time to consider golden try to decide games that are drawn after 80 minutes?

On Monday night an extremely brave Sharks side went toe-to-toe with competition heavyweights the Cowboys for 82 minutes, before a Johnathan Thurston field goal iced the game for the home side.

I don’t mind the game being left as a draw after 80 minutes, but I certainly don’t ever want to see a grand final decided in the NRL’s equivalent of a penalty shootout.

It sits uneasy with me that 80 minutes of effort is forgotten for a five minute field goal-a thon, followed by a break, and five more minutes of pot shots from up to 60 metres out.

Judging by social media last night, the majority of fans support at least looking at golden try, where a game would be decided by a try in extra time. Field goals and penalty goals would still apply, but a try would act in a way that golden goal does in football.

If a try is not scored after ten minutes, the score would finish, well however it finished. If team was to kick three penalty goals, but concede a try, they still lose.

Rugby league is built on try scoring, and as exciting as last-minute snaps can be, kids don’t run around the schoolyard reenacting the Braith Anasta field goal from a few years back.

I enjoy the spectacle of golden point. It’s exciting, and I love watching a 50-metre field goal sail through, but I loathe when golden point degenerates into a five hit-up set, followed by a shot at field goal.

The golden try idea is not perfect, and it’s not possible to please everyone, but I would be very surprised if the majority of league fans favoured a field-goal shootout over sides working toward scoring that winning try.

The Crowd Says:

2014-09-04T05:45:52+00:00

Ranga

Guest


Scrap golden point, a draw is good enough.

2014-09-03T12:37:47+00:00

Knightblues

Roar Guru


Bring back the draw.

2014-09-03T00:53:06+00:00

Tom G

Guest


Nothing wrong with the draw,., it's yet another prime example of a brain dead administration fixing things that aren't broken.. 40:20 change no one asked for, stadia policy, hiring Greenberg... The list goes on forever

2014-09-02T11:51:39+00:00

Devout Saint

Guest


Yeah, it should be golden try for 10 minutes in regular season games. But for finals it should be a mandatory 10 minutes each way extra time, just like it was before golden point. It could have even been 15 minutes each way in finals before golden point, I am not sure.

2014-09-02T11:48:54+00:00

Devout Saint

Guest


No 10 minutes extra time in finals is certainly not too much. It was always extra time in finals before golden point was introduced. I am not sure if it was 20 or 30 minutes extra time. If it was still a draw after extra time, then they used to have to play again on the following Tuesday. They never should have changed the extra time rule for finals when golden point came in.

2014-09-02T10:26:13+00:00

john badseed

Guest


What about 'rock, paper, scissors'?

2014-09-02T10:06:35+00:00

MikeTV

Guest


The two Golden Point victories by North Queensland (Round 25) and Melbourne (Round 1) may prove to be crucial in making the top eight this year. Six teams are competing for the last 4 places (Bulldogs, Storm, Cowboys, Warriors, Eels and Broncos). Whoever misses out on the eight will probably want to examine what would have happened if the Premiership Points were split for these two matches.

2014-09-02T09:53:50+00:00

Rodney

Roar Pro


10 minutes is a bit much for a team backing up the week after. 80 minutes of close footy is already draining, 100 minutes is going to leave the winning team with a severe handicap for the following week. Golden point may be anticlimactic, but it also gets a result as quick as possible. Which in a finals scenario is the fairest outcome for whoever wins. Although I agree in regular season it should just stand as a draw, if they're equal after 80 they both deserve a point.

AUTHOR

2014-09-02T08:09:09+00:00

Daniel Nichols

Roar Guru


Ha Ha, agreed there are 10 bigger issues but this was topical after last night lol. I don't like it, but it seems to have the support of the tv stations, who ultimately run the game

2014-09-02T08:01:57+00:00

Maroon Blood

Guest


I would also like to point out that Daniel Holdsworth is a product of WA Rugby League, North Beach Sea Eagles if I am not mistaken, but expansion is another topic.

2014-09-02T07:20:54+00:00

a

Guest


What about a umlimted golden point gme

2014-09-02T07:18:32+00:00

Paneer

Guest


Daniel, mate this is not a big issue at all. Noone is losing sleep over it and crowds nor dollars depend on it. I can think of 10 bigger issues. Golden Point rocks :)

2014-09-02T06:46:31+00:00

slurpy

Guest


same as ice hockey i believe? - i've heard channel 9 commentators suggest this also, could be a good spectacle. again not sure if you'd want it to decide a premiership but its gotta be better than the shootout.

2014-09-02T06:45:05+00:00

slurpy

Guest


Golden try is a winner. I'm all for field & penalty goals in extra time but they shouldn't stop play. if you kick a field goal then defend your lead for the few minutes remaining - same as if you kick a field goal in the 70th minute. if you score a try then call time (unless someone's scored 7 points in field and penalty goals, then you have to out point them).

2014-09-02T06:38:09+00:00

Manly Man

Guest


Mate its a good idea but the Nrl will stuff it up.

2014-09-02T06:36:46+00:00

Manly Man

Guest


Yes bring In the golden try! Been saying it for years. Penalty kicks shouldnt be allowed either. Can't stand the pain of the kick a thon that is golden point.

2014-09-02T05:27:57+00:00

Hill's In For The Kill

Guest


I played a touch footy comp in the Hunter Valley which I thought had a great rule for a draw. At the end of regulation play we had a quick breather and then resumed play. However, every 2 minutes a player was taken off the field be each team until a try was scored. Generally the fitter, more skilful team won in the end but it made you think which players you wanted left on the field...good defenders or good attackers etc etc. I think this could easily apply to the NRL. Worth a thought I think as an alternative to Golden Point. Whaddya reckon??

2014-09-02T03:55:48+00:00

Cadfael

Roar Guru


I hate the idea of golden point during the regular season. A draw is a result and last night's game was a ripper with neither side deserving to lose. Golden point for the finals, I'll go along with that though the extra time in the Canberra v Balmain GF was a great finish to a great game. If they have to proceed with the golden point during the season, what about one point each at fulltime then an additional point for winning the game in golden point time.

2014-09-02T03:25:30+00:00

planko

Guest


I love the extra time and the Golden idea but what about this. 10 minutes each way until someone scores a try..... The try is golden not the drop goal. Sure go for one (field goal) but it should not be game over if you hit it. The 10 mins each way plays out unless it is a try.

2014-09-02T03:25:29+00:00

planko

Guest


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